Part anchoring and part weeding out people who don't know the value and setting expectations. Let me give you an example. We are getting out bathroom redone.

Part anchoring and part weeding out people who don't know the value and setting expectations. Let me give you an example. We are getting out bathroom redone. The first step is the contractor is going to come out and "take a look and get an idea of where we will be at price wise". He will then (he said) give us a rough idea of the cost. After we hear that and we look like we are both in the same ballpark he will proceed further to get an actual design in place and we will get down to specific prices. There is also anchoring involved in this as well (say he gets us to agree to 30k for the bathroom won't be hard getting us to 35k, right?). Had the same just happen with putting in a backup generator. Guy on the phone stated "most systems like you need will cost $15,000". Said "ok". Came out, job priced out below that he had shot high. Didn't want to waste his time quoting if we thought the price is merely what you see for the equipment at Home Depot.